wasaWater supplied by Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA) is contaminated in 59 areas under its 10 zones, according to a report submitted to the High Court on Thursday, reports UNB.Local government, rural development (LGRD) ministry placed the report prepared by WASA before the court.On 13 May, WASA handed over the report to the LGRD ministry.The areas that got polluted water Jatrabari, Basabo, Mugda, Rajarbagh, Kusumbagh, Jurain, Maniknagar, Manda, Dholaipar and Matuail under Zone-1; Bhagalpur, Lalbagh, Bakshibazar and Shahidnagar under Zone-2; Zigatala, Dhanmondi, Sukrabad, Kalabagan, Bhutergali and Mohammadpur under Zone-3; Shewrapara, Pirerbagh, Monipur Paikpara, Kazipara and Mirpur under Zone-4; Mohakhali and Tejgaon under Zone-5; Siddheswari, Shahjahanpur, Khilgaon, Moghbazar, Noyatola, Rampura, Malibagh and Paribagh under Zone-6; Kadamtali, Dhania, Shyampur, Rasulbagh, Merajnagar, Paterbagh, Shanirakhra, Konapara and Muslim Nagar under Zone-7; Badda, Aftabnagar, Bashundhara and Vatara under Zone-8; Uttara, Khilkhet, Fayedabad, Mollartek and Ranavola under Zone-9; and Kafrul, Kazipara, Mirpur, Kachukhet and Pallabi under Zone-10.Submitting the report, the ministry told the court that they will collect 1,065 water samples from the 10 zones and an amount of Tk 7.57 million will be required to test those.The HC bench of justice JBM Hassan and justice Khairul Alam asked chairman of Dhaka University’s Microbiology Department Prof Sabita Rezwana Rahman to give her opinion on the report before the court on 21 May.Deputy attorney general Motahar Hossain Sazu argued for LGRD ministry, lawyer Tanvir Ahmed moved for the petitioner and M Masud represented WASA.On 13 May, the HC expressed discontent as WASA failed to submit the report after examining its water supplied to different areas and asked the LGRD ministry to submit a report within 15 May after fixing the expenditure to be required for examining water supplied by WASA.The HC order came following a writ petition filed by lawyer Tanvir Ahmed attaching media reports published on the World Bank observations.On 8 May, the High Court ordered the authorities concerned to prepare a list of the areas receiving highly contaminated water supplied by Dhaka WASA.On 11 October 2018, the World Bank published a report which says over 75 million people of the country drink unsafe water as 41 per cent sources of water contains harmful bacteria. The report also said 13 per cent water contains arsenic.The World Bank report said about 80 per cent water supplied through pipeline contains harmful bacteria.On 6 November 2018, the High Court ordered the authorities concerned to form a five-member committee for examining the Dhaka WASA water.read more

Darryl “DMC” McDaniels of Run-D.M.C. is making that a reality on Sept. 26 with a charity event he’s hosting in the District for the first time. Om This Way, a play on Run-D.M.C.’s 1980s hit “Walk This Way,” is a two-hour event that will be held at Equinox Sports Club, a luxurious health club in the District’s West End neighborhood.Darryl “DMC” McDaniels will lead a yoga class called “Om This Way” on Sept. 26. (Courtesy photo)Equinox has hosted the charity event for two years at its sports clubs in Boston, Los Angeles, New York City and San Francisco. It’s the event’s first foray into the District.“We can’t wait to bring this movement to our nation’s capital September 2‬6th and the tour continues in NYC in November and Miami in December,” McDaniels said in a statement released to the AFRO.‬‬‬The charity event is raising money for two groups. The first is The Children’s Guild, a nonprofit that assists Washington and Maryland children struggling with trauma disorders, autism and other disabilities. The other one is The Felix Foundation, which benefits children growing up in foster care. McDaniels, the foundation’s cofounder, said he relates to the groups because he, too, was a foster child until he was adopted. “This partnership with Equinox has raised thousands of dollars for The Felix Organization which I co-founded in 2006 with fellow adoptee Sheila Jaffe,” McDaniels said in the statement. The event kicks off with a 45-minute charity yoga class that’ll have local DJ Brandon “DJ Ri5e” Perry playing old-school and current hip-hop tunes as yogis stretch, pose and breathe it out on the mat under the direction of three instructors. The yoga session is open to people of all fitness levels, and instructors will offer modifications to people who are new to yoga or are struggling with injuries, said Heather Loren, the club’s member relations manager. Instructors will also demonstrate the postures to show attendees how they’re done. McDaniels will perform a live concert once the yoga concludes, and a reception will conclude the night. Members of the public do not have to belong to the club to attend, but it costs $75 to reserve a space. A $500 donation will send one child to the foundation’s summer camp, which gives resources and experiences to foster children that would have otherwise eluded them. Yoga, an ancient Indian practice that emphasizes meditation, breathing and specialized postures, is typically performed to serene tunes that aren’t necessarily known for their beats. Hip-hop yoga represents a break from that tradition. “It’s definitely a more high-energy type of yoga,” Loren said, noting that the yoga will still be a low-impact exercise. “We really just want to be able to serve as a great hosting site…and to be able to sweat for a cause.” To reserve your spot for the event, visit www.crowdrise.com/om-this-way.read more

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and four other Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders, accused of violating prohibitory orders here and obstructing public servants in discharge of their duty during an agitation were on Monday directed to appear before a Delhi court on May 15.Metropolitan Magistrate Akash Jain was irked that Kejriwal and other accused had not appeared before it even on the last date of hearing and said there was “no justifiable ground” for their exemption from personal appearance. Also Read – Company director arrested for swindling Rs 345 croreAdvocate Rishikesh Kumar, who appeared for the accused, assured the court that Kejriwal, Sisodia and other accused would positively appear before it on Tuesday.“Kindly give us time for tomorrow (Tuesday). They (accused) all will appear. I am giving undertaking that they will appear before the court tomorrow,” the counsel said.“It has been submitted that accused number one (Kejriwal) and accused number two (Sisodia) are Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi and remaining accused persons are senior members of the AAP and could not appear on Monday due to their busy schedule. Perusal of the records shows that accused persons did not appear on the last date of hearing,” the court said.“No justifiable grounds for exemption are made out….Put up for appearance of accused persons and arguments on charge on May 15,” the magistrate said.read more